Renewable Energy terms starting with R

69 terms

Rain shadow effect The region on the lee (sheltered) side of a mountain or mountain range where the precipitation is noticeably less than on the windward side, because the…
Rangeland Land on which the native vegetation, climax, or natural potential consists predominately of grasses, grasslike plants, forbs, or shrubs.
Rankine steam cycle The thermodynamic cycle of temperature and pressure changes of water as it is converted from a liquid to a gaseous state by heating, and returns back to…
RAPTOR A bird of prey such as a falcon, hawk, or eagle.
Rare species See Special status species
Rate Schedule A mechanism used by electric utilities to determine prices for electricity; typically defines rates according to amounts of power demanded/consumed during…
Rated battery capacity The term used by battery manufacturers to indicate the maximum amount of energy that can be withdrawn from a battery under specified discharge rate and…
reaction A chemical reaction is a dissociation, recombination, or rearrangement of atoms.
Rebound (of water levels) The recovery/rise of the water level in a groundwater aquifer after groundwater pumping has ceased.
Receiver The component of a central receiver solar thermal system where reflected solar energy is absorbed and converted to thermal energy.
receptor (reh-SEP-ter) A molecule inside or on the surface of a cell that binds to a specific substance and causes a specific physiologic effect in the cell.
Recharge Water that infiltrates into the ground, usually from above, that replenishes groundwater reserves, provides soil moisture, and affords evapotranspiration.
Recirculation Returning a fraction of the effluent outflow to the inlet to dilute incoming wastewater.
Reclamation The process of restoring surface environment to acceptable pre-existing conditions.
Reclamation withdrawal Withholding an area of public land from the operation of the public land laws for the purpose of reserving the land for the use of the Bureau of…
recombinant DNA The process of cutting and recombining DNA fragments from different sources as a means to isolate genes or to alter their structure and function.
Record of Decision (ROD) The Record of Decision (ROD) is a public document that explains which cleanup alternatives will be used to clean up a Superfund site.
Recovery boiler A pulp mill boiler in which lignin and spent cooking liquor (black liquor) is burned to generate steam.
Reflector A component of a solar energy facility that reflects incident sunlight to a desired location or component within the facility, allowing it to be converted…
Reformulated gasoline (RFG) Gasoline that has altered composition or characteristics to reduce emissions of pollutants from vehicles in accordance with the Clean Air Act.
Refractory Lining A lining, usually of ceramic, capable of resisting and maintaining high temperatures.
Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) A solid fuel produced by shredding municipal solid waste (MSW). Noncombustible materials such as glass and metals are generally removed prior to making…
Regeneration harvest A timber harvest method that removes selected trees in the existing stand to a density that allows for the establishment of a new even-aged stand below.
Regeneration with reserves Similar to a regeneration harvest, except that a number of green trees are left standing to meet other resource needs such as wildlife habitat.
Region of Influence (ROI) Area occupied by affected resources and the distances at which impacts associated with license renewal may occur.
Regular-track proposals Proposals on public land with pending applications considered as potential future projects, but not necessarily foreseeable projects, since not all…
Reid vapor pressure (RVP) A standard measurement of a liquid´s vapor pressure at 100 degrees Fahrenheit. An indication of the propensity of the liquid to evaporate.
Reinjection The feeding of unburned char and fly ash obtained from mechanical collectors into the furnace for further combustion.
Relict A land surface that was once a basin (valley) floor.
renewable energy resource An energy resource that can be replaced as it is used. Renewable energy resources include solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, and biomass.
Renewable energy source An energy source that is replenished continuously in nature or that is replaced after use through natural means. Sustainable energy source.
Renewable Resource Generation Development Area (GDA) Regions within Colorado with a concentration of renewable resources that provide a minimum of 1,000 MW of developable electric generating capacity.
Repetition/replication There are four plots in a repetition/replication, the early, mid and late seral treatment plots and a control plot.
Reptile Cold-blooded vertebrate of the class Reptilia whose skin is usually covered in scales or scutes.
Reserve margin The percentage of installed capacity exceeding the expected peak demand during a specified period.
Reserved Water Right A special water right accompanying federal lands (military reservations, national parks, forests, or monuments) or Indian reservations.
Reservoir A reservoir of an infectious agent, such as a virus, is any animal, person, plant, soil, substance—or combination of any of these — in which the…
Resident fish Fish species that complete their entire life cycle in freshwater. Non-anadromous fish. An example is rainbow trout.
residues, biomass Byproducts from processing all forms of biomass that have significant energy potential.
Residuum Unconsolidated, weathered, or partly weathered mineral material that accumulates by disintegration of bedrock in place.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) The primary goals of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) are to protect human health and the environment from the potential hazards of waste…
Resource Management Plan (RMP) A land use plan that establishes land use allocations, multiple use guidelines, and management objectives for a given planning area.
Resource values A resource, natural or social, that is found in an area. Resource values may have varying levels of significance.
Retinal damage Damage to photoreceptor cells of the retina. One mechanism for such damage is exposure to bright light that triggers chemical reactions in the tissues…
Retrofitting The application of conservation, efficiency, or renewable energy technologies to existing structures.
Return on investment (ROI) The interest rate at which the net present value of a project is zero. Multiple values are possible.
Reuse The reclamation of water diverted from a municipal or industrial wastewater conveyance system.
Rhyolite Volcanic rock (or lava), characteristically light in color and containing 69% silica or more and generally rich in potassium and sodium (felsic…
Rhyolitic domes See also Dome, volcanic; Rhyolite
Richter Magnitude Scale Developed in 1935 by Charles Richter to measure and compare the size of earthquakes.
Rift An area where the Earth's crust and lithosphere is being pulled apart by extensional tectonic forces.
Rift zone A tectonic feature characterized by a central linear downfaulted segment (graben) with parallel normal faulting and flanking uplifts (horsts).
Right-lateral fault See Fault, right-lateral
Right-of-way (ROW) The legal right to cross the lands of another. Also used to indicate the strip of land for a road, railroad, or power line.
Rill A small and shallow incision into topsoil layers resulting from erosion by overland flow or surface runoff that is common on slopes of unvegetated ground…
Rinsate Water that is used to rinse or clean equipment or reaction vessels and that may, as a result, become contaminated and require special handling and…
Riparian Relating to, living in, or located on the bank of a river, lake, or tidewater.
Riparian Area Vegetated ecosystems along a waterbody through which energy, materials, and water pass.
Riparian buffer Riparian areas that are managed to protect the aquatic and riparian ecosystem. A riparian buffer protects water quality and temperature, habitat along the…
Riparian obligate species Plants or animal species found only in riparian habitats.
Risk The possibility of loss; the uncertainty of future returns.
River Basin The land area surrounding one river from its headwaters to its mouth. The area drained by a river and its tributaries.
Riverine wetland Wetlands within river and stream channels, generally characterized by flowing water. Ocean-derived salinity is less than 0.5 part per thousand.
Rock art Images on rock surfaces. There are two types of rock art: pictographs, which are drawn or painted onto the surface, and petroglyphs, which are pecked…
Rock outcrop The part of a rock formation that appears above the surface of the surrounding land.
Roost An area where birds or bats rest or sleep. Birds often use branches or tree cavities for roosts while bats use tree bark, tree hollows, caves, mines…
Rotation The number of years allotted to establish and grow a forest stand to maturity.
Rough trees Live trees of commercial species which do not contain a sawlog because of roughness, poor form, splits, or cracks.
Roundwood Logs, bolts, or other round sections cut from trees.